A polarizer is a material that only allows light waves that vibrate in a specific direction to pass through. When light passes through a polarizer, it becomes polarized, meaning the light waves are all vibrating in the same direction. This can reduce the intensity of light, as only a portion of the light is able to pass through the polarizer.
The intensity of light after passing through a polarizer can be calculated using the Malus' Law equation: I = I0cos2(θ), where I0 is the initial intensity of light and θ is the angle between the polarizer and the direction of the incoming light.
No, the intensity of light can only decrease after passing through a polarizer. This is because the polarizer blocks a portion of the light, resulting in a lower overall intensity.
The angle of the polarizer, represented by θ in the Malus' Law equation, determines the amount of light that is able to pass through. When θ is 0 degrees, the polarizer is parallel to the incoming light and allows all of it to pass through, resulting in the maximum intensity. As θ increases, the intensity of light decreases until it reaches 0 when θ is 90 degrees.
The intensity of light and the angle of the polarizer have an inverse relationship, meaning as one increases, the other decreases. This is shown by the cosine function in the Malus' Law equation, which decreases as θ increases. As the angle of the polarizer increases, more light is blocked and the overall intensity decreases.